vegan beauty and lifestyle

Beauty

There’s no denying it – Christmas is a fundamentally consumerist event, which sees us spending hundreds of pounds on festive food and gifts for our loved ones, the pressure to part with our cash starting as early as October. I’m not immune to the pull of capitalism, nor do I think it’s a bad thing to want to treat ourselves and others during the celebrations. There are dark sides to it, too, though – not everyone can afford to spend any money on gifts at all, and the excessive spending does feel somewhat grotesque with social issues such as homelessness and food poverty looming alongside it.

Every so often, the question of whether or not it is ethically acceptable to buy from cruelty-free brands who are owned by parent companies who test on animals comes up in the community, causing a little chatter as we all try to define and articulate our views on the subject. It has come up most recently following beloved cruelty-free brand Too Faced’s acquisition by notorious baddies, Estée Lauder. I’ve really been intrigued reading everyone’s opinions on this complex issue and, while it’s far from being a hot take, I thought I’d add my own voice to the mix.

Occasionally, I’ll take a peek at the ingredients of my favourite foundation or mascara, and be met with an incomprehensible list of chemicals which, although they have been cleared for use, are disconcerting nonetheless. Some of the main offenders are my favourite cruelty-free brands, which I have been loyal to (much to the despair of my bank balance) since deciding to use only vegan products. And while I haven’t had any adverse reactions to any of the products I’ve used, it has got me thinking about seeking more natural alternatives.

Since switching to cruelty-free and vegan beauty, I’ve become much more conscious of the brands I buy from. Popping into the local Superdrug to pick out a new lipstick or mascara is not as simple as it once was, as there are several things I now need to consider: does this brand sell in mainland China? Does this lipstick contain carmine? Is this company parent-owned by a notorious tester? Thankfully, there are resources available which make things easier, and after a few years of practice, I’m getting there in terms of knowing who to buy from and who to avoid.

A few days ago, I shared some ideas for Halloween beauty looks along with an inspiring mood board. My suggestions included a creepy doll, harlequin or alien. In preparation for the celebration on the 31st, I thought I’d have a go at creating my own Halloween makeup look, and have shared the results below.

As you may already be able to tell, I love makeup. I love getting creative applying it, I love watching talented people teach me how to get better at it, I love how attractive it makes me feel when I wear it. Along with food and books, it’s probably what I spend most of my hard earned money on, and I wouldn’t have that any other way.

I might be enjoying the change in seasons – all those fallen leaves, scented candles and the return of my beloved blanket scarf – but my skin certainly isn’t. I feel like I need to bathe in a pool of coconut oil to continuously soak in some moisture. My face in particular has been suffering; I have dry patches on my cheeks and forehead, and my lips are chapped and sore. Gee, thanks, October.

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